General Chat

Posted a thread earlier about UNISON. To be contrary this time. Tony Blair has made a speech in praise of the NHS, saying it is improving. I will get shot down for saying that he is correct. Trying to be fair, while it is still ailing, things have got better overall. And I repeat again, I don,t vote Labour. Happy days

Hi Harry i put a reply on your other thread,about a cousin who broke her hip friday,they were going to operate asp,last night they told her they were going to operate ,,she went to the operating theatre at 2pm this afternoon 3 days after breaking her hip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3pm she went down to operating room

After reading all the 'Garbage'which comes out of the mouths of politicians regarding the NHS. I can well understand their keen-ness on 'Recycling Rubbish',they seem to use it all the time,It makes me wonder who they,re trying to convince,Us or Themselves,most likely the latter. Hal.

One of the sadder things about old age is that my good lady and myself have to use the NHS more often. My doctors surgery is more accessible. At our hospital, waiting times for both appointments and operations have come down, and our A and E has cut down on waiting times drastically. Lots of things still wrong though. I accept that. Happy days

Hi Harry, I don't know about the NHS in England but it Scotland we really do have problems!!!. In Hospital wards only Junior House officers on duty in the evening until morning, many people die during the night and they are left in their beds until morning staff come on. In fact the JHO sleep in a small room on the ward and don't like to be wakened for anything. When my husband was in hospital with appendicitis, he was told the doctor who was going to operate had gone off on holiday for two weeks. He was sent home as no other doctor could do the operation, we were told he would be called back in in two weeks time, if fact he had to wait another 6 weeks to be called back in for the operation. All this time he was in agony and the pathology department said he was very lucky because his appendics were very badly infected. Oh I could go on for hours about the problem here like 9 months to get an appointment with a consultant. Betty

Hi everyone, Just wondered after posting my message on this thread if anyone had any other problems with NHS in England or Scotland. Betty

I took this afternoon off for a dental checkup. When I got there I discovered my dentist had decided to go private - so no NHS checkup for me because I wouldn't sign on the dotted line. My dentist was 15 miles from my home because there are no NHS dentists nearer that will take adults so I don't know what happens next. I got my kids in one more local but they won't take me or hubby because the books are full and there were only private places left. When we recently discovered that my son would need a filling, his dentist said he'd have to go to hospital for it - not because its difficult but because he couldn't spare more than 10 minutes for it 'at the expense of his private patients'. I'm still trying to sort that one out and now I'm going to have to go without myself or find the money to go private. Hubby already has to go to North London- a 2 1/2 hour trip each way - for his NHS dentist because we couldn't get him one any nearer. I'm totally fed up with the whole thing. Oh, and my sister and husband have been completely let down by the NHS too - not only did they misdiagnose advanced pancreatic cancer in her hubby, but both have been told they no longer have an NHS dentist at a time they are struggling to keep body and soul together and pay the bills. Angela

Harry, I would rather have the NHS the way it is than not have it at all. I'm sorry but we have all had bad experiences.... but overall I think it is wonderful. Jean x.

It is not wonderful - yes the advances in medicine and dedication of the medical staff mean that more and more are getting treatment and care that was unheard of a few years ago. It is the bureaucracy and top heavy administration, coupled with target chasing culture that is the problem. My wife needed an appointment so.... 1. visit GP, who writes letter to hospital 2. letter from hosliptal saying that doctor has written letter and would she mind ringing to book appointment at her convenience 3. ring hospital - engaged 4. ring hospital - engaged 6. ring hospital - engaged 7. ring hospital - get through this time but no appointment available to suit conveniance. 8. accepts inconvenient appointment as a result of cancellation 9. letter confirming appointment Elapsed time from GP visit - 1 month. Imagine going to the travel agent to book a flight, only to be told that it will take 4 weeks three letters and a phone call to book a ticket?

Many thanks for your replies. glad one person (Jean) is on my side. Don,t think however much money is pumped in - won,t keep pace with the increasing number of people using it for more and more conditions. Our hospital is awash with patients. We all like to blame over management, me included. figure quoted today said management only took 3% (might have been 4) of the NHS budget. Happy days

Harry, just you try to get some dental treatment on N H S I worked and paid into the system for fifty one years. Now it looks like I will have to go private. I have been quoted £550 for a set of dentures.

I think the admin is grossly understated. Going back to Mrs M again, last year I went with her when she had her scheduled over 50's breast scan. To get access to the clinic we had to pass through two reception desks, each manned (womaned?) by TWO ladies, who all four of whom looked bored to death with underwork. I'm sure these individuals are not counted as admin staff. In addition we had to pay the obligatory £2:50 to park for 45 minutes, which irked me no end.

Plainly out-voted on this issue. Would agree with Bernard about the dental treatment. Pretty bad situation, but I don,t know the ins and outs of that. (costing me a bomb too). Thanks for the replies. Happy days (and good health in this case)